[Geoffray]

As Christmas present, Martin release a new chapter of the Wind of Winter: There.
Please be careful, the chapter spoil (obviously) a Dance with Dragon.

Have fun reading .

[QuickTidal]

Oh I'm not falling into the trap of reading a chapter from the next book when we all know the next book won't be out till 2020.

Nice try Georgie!

[Ceda Cicero]

Thanks for posting, repped accordingly. Very cool chapter. I love the sideways glimpses of Bran, wondering what the hell he's up to. And Stannis is one hard motherfucker.

[End of Disc One]

Not going to complain but hopefully sometime within the next 5 years before the book comes out a mod changes the title to say "Winds". Just a pet peeve of mine!

Anyway it's a pretty good preview. Stannis always has the best lines.

[Defiance]

Ugh, I wasn't going to read this until I heard people mention Stannis. Now, I have to read it. He's quickly becoming one of my favorite characters.

[Geoffray]

I think that Stannis become (during all the books)more and more badas. I mean come on, in this single chapter, he gave one of the most greatest quotes of the series:

Spoiler for tWoW:

Spoiler

Quote

Reek:"Ramsay Bolton, not Ramsay Snow, never Snow, never, you have to remember his name, or he will hurt you."
Stannis:"He is welcome to try. Whatever name he goes by."

or

Quote

Ser Stupid, Lord Too-Fat, the Bastard, let them come.

[amphibian]

Didn't Stannis lose the battle at Winterfell?

[End of Disc One]

amphibian, on 29 December 2011 - 08:51 PM, said:

Didn't Stannis lose the battle at Winterfell?

That's just what Ramsay's letter said. We have know way of knowing what actually happened.

This post has been edited by End of Disc One: 29 December 2011 - 10:00 PM

[Ceda Cicero]

amphibian, on 29 December 2011 - 08:51 PM, said:

Didn't Stannis lose the battle at Winterfell?

What EoDO said. Presumably this chapter takes place before the events of the final Jon chapter in DwD.

[JPK]

End of Disc One, on 29 December 2011 - 10:00 PM, said:

amphibian, on 29 December 2011 - 08:51 PM, said:

Didn't Stannis lose the battle at Winterfell?

That's just what Ramsay's letter said. We have know way of knowing what actually happened.

And we all know there's absolutely no way that Ramsay's a lying little bastard Bolton.

[Defiance]

The Winds of Winter has a hell of a lot of potential to bring the series back to the greatness of the first three books. I mean, we're set up for a Winterfell battle and a Mereen battle at the beginning of the book. Assuming Martin doesn't beat around the bush and make one/both of the battle span most of the book (please resolve Mereen in the first quarter of the book, please please please please please!), we'll have a killer opening and some really interesting stuff leading up to what could be an off the wall conclusion as well. Things up on the Wall are going to be very chaotic, and Jon Connington and crew are getting ready to kick some ass in southern Westeros as well, so possibly even more battles there. Bran will surely be expanded some, too, which will hopefully give us some more back story on the Others, who I expect to make a major appearance at the end of this book (or maybe not; I'm sure they'll make themselves known in a big way at the end of whatever turns out to be the second-to-last book). I really don't think he'll be able to bring it all together in just two books.

[Abyss]

End of Disc One, on 29 December 2011 - 06:34 PM, said:

Not going to complain but hopefully sometime within the next 5 years before the book comes out a mod changes the title to say "Winds". ...

Modgod notice of ask and ye shall receive.

[Ceda Cicero]

A few observations here now that those of us who've read this have had a bit of time to digest. Be forewarned, spoilers for book 5 abound.

Spoiler

Anyone else feel like this chapter somehow reinforces the theory that Ramsay's letter to Jon was a bluff? I know this chapter is clearly set well in advance of Jon receiving the letter, but something about the tone, Stannis's confidence, Idunno what exactly makes it seem more and more probable that whatever clash is about to happen in the snow, Stannis is not going to be soundly and roundly defeated.

Also, I'm nervous as hell that Stannis doesn't know yet that Manderly did NOT kill Davos, and has every intention of turning on the Boltons/Freys. Nothing would bring me greater pleasure than seeing Wyman and co turn their cloaks and join Stannis to smash a bunch of Dreadfort and Frey guys. Conversely, I'd be more enraged than I have been since the Red Wedding if Stannis and co. somehow dick over the Manderlys without ever learning of their treachery/loyalty/however you want to view it.

Somewhat related to point one: I think there's something really key happening between the lines with all the talk of "raven mail" and how it works (with most ravens being trained to fly between two places at most) and I don't think it's all to do with Bran. When Stannis makes the cryptic comment to Massey "You may hear word of my defeat" or something along those lines, it doesn't seem like pragmatism or resignation, it seems more to me like he's got something up his sleeve, and that it may well involve a major feint.

Thoughts?

[McLovin]

Maybe Ramsay's letter IS Stannis' "you may hear of my defeat" thing. Ramsay's not bluffing in ADWD, he actually thinks he has defeated Stannis. But Stannis has other plans...

Anyway, great preview chapter, and here's hoping for a swift completion to TWOW.

[Paran]

That chapter was better that 1/2 the $hit is ADWD! Why couldn't he have culled/amalgamated those Dany chapters to have space to include chapters like this?? A chapter ever 6 months, that way in 5 years time we'll have seent eh 10 or so chapters he had written that were culled from Dance. The dude, just keeps playing this game and stringing everyone along...

McLovin, that should be in *spoilers*.

Spoiler

Agree with McLovin, looks like Stannis is going to use the Ravens for misinformation. Manderly seemed like he'd know how to find a way to work back in with Stannis, he won't pass a chance to f-*l up the Freys.

This post has been edited by Paran: 03 January 2012 - 07:05 AM

[Dolorous Menhir]

Good old Stannis. So much foreshadowing has been made over his stubbornness, there is a real feeling of significance there.

It seems inconceivable that he could be the one to end up on the Throne, but likely that he will play a very important role. Against the Others, perhaps?

We simply can't put any weight on the account given by Ramsay's letter. Wyman must have a plan to communicate with Stannis, the last book made it clear he was no fool. Otherwise he would have marched into battle with allies he wishes to betray and an enemy he wishes to aid, and with no means to do either.

This post has been edited by Dolorous Menhir: 03 January 2012 - 09:16 PM

[acesn8s]

More Stannis badassery,

Spoiler

"I defeated your uncle Victarion and his Iron Fleet off Fair Isle, the first time your father crowned himself. I held Storm's End against the power of the Reach for a year, and took Dragonstone from the Targaryens. I smashed Mance Rayder at the Wall, though he had twenty times my numbers. Tell me, turncloak, what battles has the Bastard of Bolton ever won that I should fear him?"

I think a stare down from Stannis would even make Chuck Norris' palms sweaty.

[Ceda Cicero]

Not directly related to this thread, but I didn't feel like starting a new one:

I love the Onion. http://www.theonion....rge-rr-m,26934/

[McLovin]

acesn8s, on 04 January 2012 - 01:54 PM, said:

I think a stare down from Stannis would even make Chuck Norris' palms sweaty.

Walk out of here while you still can.

[Geoffray]

McLovin, on 05 January 2012 - 02:00 PM, said:

acesn8s, on 04 January 2012 - 01:54 PM, said:

I think a stare down from Stannis would even make Chuck Norris' palms sweaty.

Walk out of here while you still can.

Why? This's true. Even if a single cough of Rory Williams, make Stannis crawl .